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The Vampire Diaries #0.1
Matt and Elena: First Date
In a completely new story written specifically for this site, we get a look back in time to Matt and Elena’s first date, a year before Elena will meet Stefan. Matt takes Elena to the most expensive restaurant around, and finds that she isn’t the Ice Princess he’s been expecting. Cuddly, romantic—the greatest danger in this story is the risk of social humiliation.
44 pages, ebook
First published August 16, 2010
71 people are currently reading
5200 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Smith
337 books112k followersSmith was born in Villa Park, Orange County, California. In interviews, she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, “when a teacher praised a horrible poem I’d written”, and began writing in earnest in elementary school. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education from San Francisco State University.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 4, 2023
It was cute but I hate matt Donovan
March 27, 2022
not me giving this a higher rating than the actual books in the series
June 21, 2013
Sorry to disappoint the other fans of this book series...I'm just so used to the tv Elena version. Now, I may really not want to read the books at all...
In this short story, Elena was portrayed like one of the irritating popular girls in movies like Mean Girls and Sydney White. I like the Elena tv version - sweet, compassionate, not shallow, not hedonistic, etcetera etcetera
In this short story, Elena was portrayed like one of the irritating popular girls in movies like Mean Girls and Sydney White. I like the Elena tv version - sweet, compassionate, not shallow, not hedonistic, etcetera etcetera
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
Simpa pričica, ali moglo se i bez svih tih silnih hvalospjeva Eleni. Ok, full je zgodna, we get it - now stop!
May 6, 2020
5 🌟
Sad that Matt and Elena's first date didn't exactly go as Matt had planned it. Good that they still were able to make the date work. Hope they have fun on their other dates.
Sad that Matt and Elena's first date didn't exactly go as Matt had planned it. Good that they still were able to make the date work. Hope they have fun on their other dates.
October 3, 2015
Haha, this was quite a start for a series I've been planning to start for some time!
This short story describes the first date of Matt and Elena.
I don't know what will go on between them on the rest of the books, but this was really an ideal date.
Although, almost nothing went as planned, the author managed to show in the best way, that real feelings of love are not built in money and glittering things, but on smaller, that are more significant!
Towards the end, the story took a quite dream-like turn, but it showed us how other people would perceive their attitude, so it was welcome.
P.S. I think I like Matt very much, so it will be a shame if he's ignored in the rest of the series...
Originally posted on Greeklish Cat's Blog
This short story describes the first date of Matt and Elena.
I don't know what will go on between them on the rest of the books, but this was really an ideal date.
Although, almost nothing went as planned, the author managed to show in the best way, that real feelings of love are not built in money and glittering things, but on smaller, that are more significant!
Towards the end, the story took a quite dream-like turn, but it showed us how other people would perceive their attitude, so it was welcome.
P.S. I think I like Matt very much, so it will be a shame if he's ignored in the rest of the series...
Originally posted on Greeklish Cat's Blog
May 4, 2018
It was a nice story, but nothing really interesting happened. It made me like Matt even more because he is so sweet, even though he seems so obsessed with the idea of this 'perfect' Elena.
January 20, 2024
Calificación: ⭐⭐(2.1/5)
Opinión:
¡Agárrense fuerte, amantes de los dramas románticos, porque vamos a desentrañar el intrigante mundo de "Matt and Elena: First Date" de L.J. Smith! 🍿
En este relato corto, somos testigos del épico despliegue de inteligencia de nuestro querido Matt en su primera cita con la encantadora Elena. La autora nos lleva por un emocionante viaje lleno de clichés y momentos inolvidables que te harán exclamar: "¡Matt, amigo, el dinero no se gasta así!" 💸
La historia comienza con la cautivadora combinación de Matt, un chico nervioso armado con un billete de cien dólares y la advertencia sabia de su tío para invertirlo con destreza. Por supuesto, Matt decide que la mejor inversión es impresionar a Elena en su primera cita. ¡Qué originalidad!
El drama se intensifica cuando Matt, tras enfrentarse al peligroso escrutinio del grupo de amigas de Elena, supera la prueba de fuego recitando una poesía cursi. Porque, sinceramente, ¿qué chica no queda cautivada por versos clichés en una primera cita?
El momento álgido llega durante la cena, donde cada gesto de Elena es elevado al estatus de divinidad por parte de Matt. ¡Oh, qué sorpresa, resulta que Elena es medio ángel! Aunque honestamente, que Matt lo mencione cada dos segundos es tan refrescante como beber agua salada. 🌊
El clímax verdadero, sin embargo, se desata cuando nuestro querido protagonista se da cuenta de que ha perdido el billete de cien dólares. ¡Un giro tan inesperado que podrías haberte caído de la silla! La tensión aumenta mientras Matt se enfrenta a la pesadilla de no poder pagar la cuenta. ¡Suspiro dramático! 😱
Pero espera, la salvación llega cuando Elena, con una generosidad que merece un Oscar, ofrece pagar la cuenta. ¡Uff, qué alivio! Hasta que, de repente, descubrimos que Elena ha gastado su dinero en su atuendo. ¡Brillante estrategia financiera, Elena! 💃
El desenlace nos deja boquiabiertos cuando una pareja de ancianos revela que el billete siempre estuvo pegado en los zapatos de Matt. ¡Un giro tan predecible que podríamos haberlo adivinado con los ojos cerrados!🙈
En conclusión, "Matt and Elena: First Date" es una obra maestra de drama romántico que te hará preguntarte si alguna vez tus primeras citas fueron lo suficientemente épicas. ¡No se pierdan este viaje lleno de romance, decisiones financieras cuestionables y giros tan impactantes como una telenovela de mediodía! 🌟🎭
Opinión:
¡Agárrense fuerte, amantes de los dramas románticos, porque vamos a desentrañar el intrigante mundo de "Matt and Elena: First Date" de L.J. Smith! 🍿
En este relato corto, somos testigos del épico despliegue de inteligencia de nuestro querido Matt en su primera cita con la encantadora Elena. La autora nos lleva por un emocionante viaje lleno de clichés y momentos inolvidables que te harán exclamar: "¡Matt, amigo, el dinero no se gasta así!" 💸
La historia comienza con la cautivadora combinación de Matt, un chico nervioso armado con un billete de cien dólares y la advertencia sabia de su tío para invertirlo con destreza. Por supuesto, Matt decide que la mejor inversión es impresionar a Elena en su primera cita. ¡Qué originalidad!
El drama se intensifica cuando Matt, tras enfrentarse al peligroso escrutinio del grupo de amigas de Elena, supera la prueba de fuego recitando una poesía cursi. Porque, sinceramente, ¿qué chica no queda cautivada por versos clichés en una primera cita?
El momento álgido llega durante la cena, donde cada gesto de Elena es elevado al estatus de divinidad por parte de Matt. ¡Oh, qué sorpresa, resulta que Elena es medio ángel! Aunque honestamente, que Matt lo mencione cada dos segundos es tan refrescante como beber agua salada. 🌊
El clímax verdadero, sin embargo, se desata cuando nuestro querido protagonista se da cuenta de que ha perdido el billete de cien dólares. ¡Un giro tan inesperado que podrías haberte caído de la silla! La tensión aumenta mientras Matt se enfrenta a la pesadilla de no poder pagar la cuenta. ¡Suspiro dramático! 😱
Pero espera, la salvación llega cuando Elena, con una generosidad que merece un Oscar, ofrece pagar la cuenta. ¡Uff, qué alivio! Hasta que, de repente, descubrimos que Elena ha gastado su dinero en su atuendo. ¡Brillante estrategia financiera, Elena! 💃
El desenlace nos deja boquiabiertos cuando una pareja de ancianos revela que el billete siempre estuvo pegado en los zapatos de Matt. ¡Un giro tan predecible que podríamos haberlo adivinado con los ojos cerrados!🙈
En conclusión, "Matt and Elena: First Date" es una obra maestra de drama romántico que te hará preguntarte si alguna vez tus primeras citas fueron lo suficientemente épicas. ¡No se pierdan este viaje lleno de romance, decisiones financieras cuestionables y giros tan impactantes como una telenovela de mediodía! 🌟🎭
May 25, 2022
Tot voor vandaag wist ik het bestaan niet van deze novellas. Voor de volledigheid (en de nieuwsgierigheid naar de inhoud) ben ik er gelijk aan begonnen.
Aangezien ik al wat verder ben in de serie is het wel vreemd om te lezen hoe de Matt en Elena zijn en hoe zij zich gedragen in deze novella.
Verder vond ik de inhoud van de novella niet heel spannend, er gebeurde niet heel veel. Maar het einde vond ik daarentegen wel weer heel grappig. Al met al was het een prima novella.
Aangezien ik al wat verder ben in de serie is het wel vreemd om te lezen hoe de Matt en Elena zijn en hoe zij zich gedragen in deze novella.
Verder vond ik de inhoud van de novella niet heel spannend, er gebeurde niet heel veel. Maar het einde vond ik daarentegen wel weer heel grappig. Al met al was het een prima novella.
September 22, 2017
Sort of bonus story. It's not a big deal if you don't read it.
October 1, 2018
How wonderful story with such great details about their first date.
Matt is just a gentleman and worried about doing something wrong in his date.
Very short book but covered with awesomeness.
Matt is just a gentleman and worried about doing something wrong in his date.
Very short book but covered with awesomeness.
October 12, 2020
This was okay, but my God, how many times do we need to be told that Elena is the most beautiful person to ever set foot on this planet? It was every other sentence! Give it a rest!
September 6, 2017
Very sweet story that helps flesh out the series in new ways. Seeing the chemistry between Matt and Elena takes a whole deeper aspect to what comes later. It's also kind of nice to see what the author can do outside the supernatural.
The date itself is so classic that it's almost cliche. The fancy restaurant, the poor boy and the rich girl The snooty waiter...yet it's their reactions to the situation that make this fresh and new and fun. Definitely worth a look if you're a fan of the Vampire Diaries.
The date itself is so classic that it's almost cliche. The fancy restaurant, the poor boy and the rich girl The snooty waiter...yet it's their reactions to the situation that make this fresh and new and fun. Definitely worth a look if you're a fan of the Vampire Diaries.
November 21, 2025
It was really interesting to me getting to see a little bit more of the characters normality, the relationship between Elena and the other girls with Caroline before they stop being friends, but especially the relationship between Elena and Matt. I always wondered about them and about why Matt was so in love with her since she was not such a good person, but I get it now. Now the fact that he has such a hard time getting over her makes more sense to me.
They were really cute together.
They were really cute together.
June 8, 2017
This was a nice little story, romantic and humorous. However, I felt like the author only wrote it as an excuse to rain praise down on Elena and how "perfect" she is. Hardly a page went by where Matt wasn't complimenting this or that, and though it may make me sound petty and envious, it was annoying.
(P.S. Can one truly be envious of a fictional character?)
(P.S. Can one truly be envious of a fictional character?)
April 14, 2018
Short and saccharine sweet. Kind of made me ship Book!Elena and Book!Matt a bit. Not sure what was up with the ghost of his Uncle Joe. Was it really there? Or was Matt just imagining things? With Vampire Diaries, it's impossible to tell.
December 25, 2020
Matt and Elena: First Date
Plot: With the hundred dollars his Uncle Joe gave him *two years before he died* burning a hole in his pocket, Matt (full of nerves) goes to pick up his dream girl Elena. After showing off his poetic flow, he gets her friend's approval (Caroline, Bonnie, and Meredith) and they head for the fancy, French, restaurant Matt picked out. First tho they stop by a florist where Matt previously picked for Elena a white rose. However, the shop is closed. At the restaurant, they bond over talk about sports and cars. Matt excuses himself after making a spontaneous purchase of a rose from a gypsy lady to calculate the rest of the meal, but discovers the hundred-dollar bill is gone. He and Elena come up a plan to each get dessert items and share (to the disgust of the snooty waiter). An elderly couple comes over and compliments them. Then the man tells Matt the money was stuck to his shoe the whole time.
My Thoughts: On one hand, this was WAY too gushy and over the top! Matt and Elena’s date *was* cute. Matt’s infatuation was NOT! But amusingly, I think if the tables were reversed and I were to go on a date with the man *(* think is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, this is how a diary or journal or a blog entry would look like told from my POV. Interestingly enough my best friend and I had a writing contest just spontaneously who could write the best erotic story and the story I wrote about that perfect, gorgeous, man.. well let’s just say it was just as gushy just not as innocent. I was thinking wow is this the way *(* sound when I go on and on and on about that guy? Oh, and I was a nice little hint to throw in the gypsy giving a hint to come in the following books. I’ve only gotten a couple of books in still I know that Matt and Elena do NOT end up together and it’s a little sad because while Matt is all ga-ga that Elena is the perfect girl, he himself sounds like the perfect guy for Elena.
Rating: 5
Plot: With the hundred dollars his Uncle Joe gave him *two years before he died* burning a hole in his pocket, Matt (full of nerves) goes to pick up his dream girl Elena. After showing off his poetic flow, he gets her friend's approval (Caroline, Bonnie, and Meredith) and they head for the fancy, French, restaurant Matt picked out. First tho they stop by a florist where Matt previously picked for Elena a white rose. However, the shop is closed. At the restaurant, they bond over talk about sports and cars. Matt excuses himself after making a spontaneous purchase of a rose from a gypsy lady to calculate the rest of the meal, but discovers the hundred-dollar bill is gone. He and Elena come up a plan to each get dessert items and share (to the disgust of the snooty waiter). An elderly couple comes over and compliments them. Then the man tells Matt the money was stuck to his shoe the whole time.
My Thoughts: On one hand, this was WAY too gushy and over the top! Matt and Elena’s date *was* cute. Matt’s infatuation was NOT! But amusingly, I think if the tables were reversed and I were to go on a date with the man *(* think is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, this is how a diary or journal or a blog entry would look like told from my POV. Interestingly enough my best friend and I had a writing contest just spontaneously who could write the best erotic story and the story I wrote about that perfect, gorgeous, man.. well let’s just say it was just as gushy just not as innocent. I was thinking wow is this the way *(* sound when I go on and on and on about that guy? Oh, and I was a nice little hint to throw in the gypsy giving a hint to come in the following books. I’ve only gotten a couple of books in still I know that Matt and Elena do NOT end up together and it’s a little sad because while Matt is all ga-ga that Elena is the perfect girl, he himself sounds like the perfect guy for Elena.
Rating: 5
July 13, 2025
:))))))))) pero qué es esto tan hermoso 😭
Matt me cayó biennn. O sea, en la serie empezó así, luego me fue indiferente y después me pareció un grano en el culo pero que cute leerle aquí!
Sobre Elena...
QUE LINDAAA
Es como la chica mimada más dulce e inteligente, y es tan alegre que duele.
Siento que su descripción física le queda perfectamente.
Me emociona conocer esta versión de los personajes.
Y acaso Bonnie de la serie es una mezcla entre la otra amiga que empieza con M de morena y la Bonnie pelirroja del libro :0
Ta cool.
Btw, la forma en como Matt describe a Elena >>>>
Me gustaron las descripciones. Aunque algo en la redacción de algunos diálogos me dejó en modo mirada que juzga.
Y al parecer Elena es una diosa alv.
Sólo queda decir: veamos si la viejita que les leyó el futuro acertó
Matt me cayó biennn. O sea, en la serie empezó así, luego me fue indiferente y después me pareció un grano en el culo pero que cute leerle aquí!
Sobre Elena...
QUE LINDAAA
Es como la chica mimada más dulce e inteligente, y es tan alegre que duele.
Siento que su descripción física le queda perfectamente.
Me emociona conocer esta versión de los personajes.
Y acaso Bonnie de la serie es una mezcla entre la otra amiga que empieza con M de morena y la Bonnie pelirroja del libro :0
Ta cool.
Btw, la forma en como Matt describe a Elena >>>>
Me gustaron las descripciones. Aunque algo en la redacción de algunos diálogos me dejó en modo mirada que juzga.
Y al parecer Elena es una diosa alv.
Sólo queda decir: veamos si la viejita que les leyó el futuro acertó
October 7, 2018
Cuteness overload!
Such a wonderful look into Matt and Elena’s past before meeting the Salvatore brothers. It makes one wonder how Elena’s life would have been if she stayed with Matty Blue Eyes.
One being used to the television version of Elena, I feel like this Elena adds a whole new feel to the storyline. In the book series, she’s completely Mean Girls, but in the tv series the complete opposite.
Anyways, this story is cute, sweet, and simple. Simply put, the date might seem a bit cliche, but what makes it different is the reactions and solutions brought forth by Matt and Elena. Totally recommend if you ship Matt and Elena.
Such a wonderful look into Matt and Elena’s past before meeting the Salvatore brothers. It makes one wonder how Elena’s life would have been if she stayed with Matty Blue Eyes.
One being used to the television version of Elena, I feel like this Elena adds a whole new feel to the storyline. In the book series, she’s completely Mean Girls, but in the tv series the complete opposite.
Anyways, this story is cute, sweet, and simple. Simply put, the date might seem a bit cliche, but what makes it different is the reactions and solutions brought forth by Matt and Elena. Totally recommend if you ship Matt and Elena.
July 17, 2023
Probably a good thing I didn't rate and review this two years ago - I can't stand the popular girl version of Elena; Matt expects her to be perfect, like some pillow princess, and I may have considered three stars but ugh, the ending. (RIP to younger me, who may have considered a four-star review without a ranking system in place). It gets two stars because L.J. focuses on the small things over money and shiny object syndrome. Though I always feel bad for Matt later on, it's a good starting point to show character development the year before Stefan enters the picture.
September 21, 2020
Elena is extremely self absorbed and I wish someone would punch her in the face. Matt spends the hole dinner mooning over her and trying to justify putting her on a pedestal, she's rude to the waiter and when the waiter is justifiably pissy she finds it offensive. Matt says “Poor guy,” and she has the nerve to say “He is just a waiter, after all. Waiting is what heʼs paid to do." Even after that he's still saying she's perfect...Dear god Matt run.
October 8, 2018
This short story of Matt and Elena’s first date was adorable. It also really showed us how infatuated Matt was with Elena and how his love for her wasn’t just puppy love. I also enjoyed how well they both were for each other before Stefan came into the picture, and I also enjoyed the first introduction we received of her friends. This is definitely a must read.
October 9, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
I actually really enjoyed this little short story, it was the quintessential first date, the nerves, the laughter, the mishaps. No matter what anyone says no one's first date goes smoothly and I think that makes it all the better honestly.
I actually really enjoyed this little short story, it was the quintessential first date, the nerves, the laughter, the mishaps. No matter what anyone says no one's first date goes smoothly and I think that makes it all the better honestly.
July 16, 2021
mildly cute but the writing was.....
oddly i feel the books are somewhat better written than this was, even though this was published almost two decades later, though maybe smith wrote it around the same time?
oddly i feel the books are somewhat better written than this was, even though this was published almost two decades later, though maybe smith wrote it around the same time?
May 23, 2024
Gostei bastante. Bem diferente de qualquer coisa que vimos na série entre Matt e Elena, até chegamos a torcer para eles ficarem juntos no final. Aqui fomos apresentados ao tio Joe e nomes e características diferentes dos personagens vistos na série.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2024
A really cute look into the beginning of Matt and Elena, something I wish would have been hinted at in the shows at the very least. But a cute story overall and one I’m glad I gave the chance to read.
May 16, 2017
Such a cute little short story taking us back to the Elena before she met Stefan and Damon. Matt's nervousness shows but the date is still fun and they have a great time.
August 15, 2017
Heartwarming, cute and funny. Definitely worth reading before starting the series!
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November 8, 2017
This was truly adorable and realistic!!
January 4, 2018
Καταλαβαίνω πως οι fans μπορούν να γίνουν περίεργοι και κουτσομπόληδες, αλλά πραγματικά... αυτό δεν χρειαζόταν!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews